NYT Dictionary

INVENTIVE

/ɪnˈvɛntɪv/
Adjectivein-VEN-tivein-ven-tive · 3 syllablesGrade 5

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Of, or relating to invention; pertaining to the act of devising new mechanisms or processes.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Middle English inventif, inventyfe, borrowed from Old French inventif, borrowed from Medieval Latin inventivus. By surface analysis, invent + -ive.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

imaginativeabecedarianaboriginalacutearchartfulastuteautochthonousbeginningbudding

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 10 recorded puzzles:

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